the role and position of the universities of applied ... · • Universities of applied sciences (known also as polytechnics) promoting professional or work-related higher education

The Role and Position of the Universities of Applied

Sciences in the Finnish Higher Education

Dr. Jyrki Laitinen

Oulu University of Applied Sciences

School of Engineering

Jyrki Laitinen 24 Feb 2011

OUAS School of Engineering

Students 8000 2800

International students 450 150

Adult students 1400

Annual intake 1800 600

Oulu University of Applied Sciences


Annual intake 1800 600

Completed degrees 1200 400

Employment rate 70%

Staff 900 300

Annual turnover 55 Meur 22 Meur

Health and Social Care

Renevable Natural Sources

Engineering

Business and Information Management

Music, Dance and Media

Vocational Teacher Education

Oulu University of Applied Sciences, School of EngineeringBachelor of Engineering (BEng)

- Automation Engineering (Finnish)

- Building Services (Finnish)

- Civil Engineering (Finnish)

- Construction Management (Finnish)

- Information Technology (Finnish)

- Information Technology (English)


Oulu

Campus

Raahe Campus

- Mechanical and Production Engineering (Finnish)

- Medical Engineering (Finnish)

Bachelor of Laboratory Sciences (BLabSc)

-Laboratory Sciences (Finnish)

Master of Engineering (MEng)

-Civil Engineering (Finnish)

- Industrial Management (English)

- Information Technology (English)

Content

• Finnish education system

• Facts and figures

• Universities of applied sciences (i.e. polytechnics)

• Trends in higher education in Finland

• Example of the curriculum development in OUAS


Finnish education system

nine-year basic education (comprehensive school), preceded by one year of voluntary pre-primary education

upper secondary education, comprising vocational and general education


upper secondary education, comprising vocational and general education

higher education, provided by universities and polytechnics

adult education is provided at all levels of education

Finnish higher education comprises of a dualistic model:

• Universities promoting research and scientific and artistic learning. They confer Bachelor's, Master's, licentiate and doctoral degrees.

Finnish education system


• Universities of applied sciences (known also as polytechnics) promoting professional or work-related higher education and applied R&D.

The first university was established in Turku in 1640.The regular operation of universities of applied sciences started in 1996.

Students 300 000

Beginners/year 58 000

Graduates/year 45 000

Students 400 000




Leavers/year 100 000

Students 550 000


Leavers/year 65 000

Source: www.minedu.fi


Facts and figures

Universities UASs

Number 16 25

Students 169 000 139 000

Annual beginners 20 000 38 000


Graduates 24 000 21 000

Government funding 1750 Meur 870 Meur

42% (367 Meur) directly from the government and 58 % (503 Meur) from local municipalities

Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences

All universities are state-owned and subordinate to the Ministry of Education.


the Ministry of Education.

Four of the UASs are run by local authorities, seven by municipal education consortia and 14 by public companies.

Source:

http://www.cimo.fi/instancedata/prime_product_jul

kaisu/cimo/embeds/cimowwwstructure/15617_Hig

her_Education_2010.pdf

Tasks of the unversities of applied sciences


The extent of UAS degree studies is generally 210−270 study points (ECTS), which means 3.5 – 4.5 years of full-time study. This education is arranged as degree programmes. The entry requirement is a certificate from an upper secondary school or the matriculation certificate, a vocational qualification or corresponding

Studying in the universities of applied sciences


matriculation certificate, a vocational qualification or corresponding foreign studies.

The requirement for Master's studies in polytechnics is a Bachelors' level polytechnic degree and at least three years of work experience. The polytechnic Master's, which is 60-90 study points and takes 1.5-2 years, is equivalent to a university Master's in the labor market.

Fields of education in UAS sector and number of students in each field in 2009

Humanities and Education 1495 1 %

Culture 12015 9 %

Social sciences, business and administration 27427 20 %


Social sciences, business and administration 27427 20 %

Natural sciences 6039 4 %

Technology, communication and transport 40116 30 %

Natural resources and the environment 4367 3 %

Social services, health and sport 34810 26 %

Tourism, catering and domestic services 8684 6 %

134953

Trends in the higher education in Finland

� The number of unversities and universities of applied sciences will decrease in the near future (unversities from 16 to 14, UASs from 25 to17).

� The number of local officies of the higher educational institutes will decrease from 130 -> 80 (?).


will decrease from 130 -> 80 (?).

� It is proposed that all UASs should be organized as public companies. The main owner would be the Finnish state. This would solve the confrontation with the steering and funding. Now most of the funding comes from local municipalities but the steering from the ministry of education.

� The local co-operation of the universities and UASs will increase. This concerns administration, education and RDI (reasearch, development and innovation) work.

Trends in the higher education in Finland (cont.)

� The number of degree programmes will decrease. Now, there are approximately 600 degree programmes in the universities and 400 in the UASs.

� The number of students in the science and technology will decrease. There are two reasons for this. First, the interest of


decrease. There are two reasons for this. First, the interest of young people to these fields has decreased. Second, the ministry of education directs the funding more on secondary vocational education.

� The funding of the UASs will change more dependable on the measured quality criteria.

� In UASs the education is directed more on problem and project based learning, which is implemented in close collaboration with companies and public sector employers.

Example of the curriculum development

Bachelor’s

Bachelor’s thesis 15 ECTS cr

Degree Programme of Information Technology(BEng)

• Two options: wireless devices and software development

Usually in co-operation

with companies.


Bachelor’s

degree

4 years

240 ECTS cr

Practical training 30 ECTS cr.

Free-choice

studies

15 ECTS cr

Professional studies

(compulsory / optional)

Basic studies

(compulsory / optional)

180 ECTS cr

with companies.

Includes basics of project working

30 ECTS cr in projects

in close co-operation

with companies.

Pedagogical objectives

carefully defined.

Content promotes

topical subjects or

working in a business

incubator

Example of the curriculum development (cont.)

At least three major transitions

� Individual curriculums enable ”just-on-time”-type learning.

� Gradual transition of students from studying to working life.

� The role of the teachers changes from a schoolmaster to a coach


� The role of the teachers changes from a schoolmaster to a coach that guides students and creates connections between students and working life. This is obviously the most challenging regeneration in the process.

More information

CIMO. Organisation for international mobility and cooperation.

http://www.cimo.fi/frontpage

Study in Finland. http://www.studyinfinland.fi

The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC).

http://www.kka.fi/?l=en&s=1

The Ministry of Education. http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/?lang=en


Thank you for your attention!


Documents

the role and position of the universities of applied ... · • Universities of applied sciences (known also as polytechnics) promoting professional or work-related higher education